Portable visual indicator for machine-shop work setups



Feb. 3, 1948. L. A. ROSS 2,435,514

PQRTA BLE VISUAL INDICATQR FOR MACHINE SHOP WORK SETUPS Filed May 22, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 27 T J l \KH r 1 25 u; 19

7 1 1 21 24 25 Q 1. Q 10 57 g lTTT lYl 33 I 52 m A J 11 I'NVENTOR 31 30. /4.R0

mwuhahml ATTORNEY:

Feb. 3, 1948. 1.. A. ROSS 2,435,514

PORTABLE VISUAL INDICATOR FOR MACHINE SHOP WORK SETUPS Filed May 22, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Lea/3.203s

BY wwiihfiwbc dw ATTO RNIYS Feb. 3, 1948. L. A. Ross 2,435,514

PORTABLE VISUAL INDICATOR FOR MACHINE SHOP WORK SETUPS Filed May 22, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTO R Lee ARass mpmnamalqyw ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 3, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTABLE VISUAL INDICATOR FOR MACHINE-SHOP WORK SETUPS Lee Allen Ross, Lebanon, Pa. Application May 22, 1945, Serial No. 595,171 2 Claims. (01. 177-3l1) form of dial indicators which indicate the accuracy of the surface by the position of a rotary pointer on a dial. Both of these gauges may be used to measure variations in surface height or the exact distance of a surface from a reference point. The sharp pointed rod surface gauge suffers the disadvantage of being diflicult to see exactly when the pointer engages the work, particularly when the place to be measured is difiicult to see, as at the bottom of a comparatively deep and narrow hole. Dial indicators suffer the additional disadvantage of being too large to fit into the inside of a small hole. Both types suffer the disadvantage of difficult visibility when measuring a, surface in a location accessible to the gauge but not accessible to the user.

The present invention proposes to overcome the above disadvantages by providing a visual indicator to indicate when any stylus or pointer engages the surface to be measured or tested. This stylus may be the pointed rod of a conventional surface gauge, or it may take the form of a special pointed rod clamped to, for example,

the tool post of a lathe, or it may be the cutting tool itself, for example, of a boring mill.

According to the preferred form of the invention, the visual contact gauge may comprise a casing of a size of an ordinary small hand flashlight having a bulb at one end for visibility from different directions. Projecting from the midpoint of the casing is a, clamp for clamping the casing to a convenient part of the work setup and for making electrical contact. The casing may have a second terminal projecting therefrom to which a flexible lead wire is suitably connected,

said lead having a clamp for electrical connection to the setup. Such an indicator is capable of use in a wide variety of setups and is entirely selfpontained, requiring no connection with outside I power.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed 2 to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which;

Fig. l is a representation of the visual indicator, the casing being shown in section;

Fig. 2 illustrates diagrammatically one manner in which the visual indicator may be used on a lathe;

Fig. 3 represents diagrammatically an end view of a horizontal boring mill showing another manner in which the visual indicator may be used;

Fig. 4 is a. side elevation, and Fig. 5 an end elevation, of a surface gauge illustrating another manner in which the visual indicator may be used.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Fig. l, the visual indicator comprises, generally, a casing in having detachable cover I l containing flashlight battery l2 and flashlight bulb l3. A clamp I4 is connected to the body of the casing for supporting the indicator in operative position and for making electrical contact. A flexible lead l5 and a clamp I6 are provided for electric connection to another part of the setup on which the indicator is used, as explained hereinafter more in detail. It will be understood that the electric circuit is such that, when the circuit is completed through the setup from clamp M to clamp IS the bulb [3 will be lighted.

The casing H), which may be made of suitable plastic or other insulating material, has a reduced neck l9 supporting a screw threaded metal sleeve 20 to which lead 2| is connected. A suitable binding post, which may be a spring clip 22, may be formed integral with lead 2| for connection to the flexible lead I5. The flexible lead l5 may be almost any insulatedwire of sufficient length;

23 makes contact with the casing sleeve 20 ?by being threaded thereinto and 24 engages center electrode The coil will be long enough the enter con usual conditions. For setups requiring them-,y'an.

Ii dry'cell 12.

extra long lead may be provided and substituted .e

for lead l5, the spring clip' fl facilitaitifig *tliechange.

The casing has elipost 2a fixedly s et in the spring 3| to mekeeree r tai z x QK B E J 31.93%

cell. I i d i re -l thedry c'll he usual flashlight ontac withth'e'con- "etr aehi thedry i i 815 Iing washers I II I 1 ii'ipd together by an' at itiheh; sq wpg nt e rorm or a ut screwed en' the eiidbf'bindingpost'28. The fabuteme ee .e i h- .Th i l l-ie eelli ehf A ,epfeihe. .3 Whether she h e eee iele uih teibd ie. a I e d part-s back'of'tlie' teethuhafhga'ge the worksetup V, is The easing 'm'iehiehaeu withehheaza v hg me flih ih ee si aa tepeien e h f'fl ,v n t s, i

rkis'et' up or, in the h h gefi heehh bc h hft sl e j i i e d aw ell lightedsho'p, for exa ple in brightsu'n- .-,-e. tlt.wi be seeh h he l-e h t' h n ica as. i1 angle 34 ht ma h i he; te m ,v a h e e m' 4ov of "surface 40 may have the usual "f andftlie like, the re- 'lectri circuit Qthis one-inthe form I. "'Hereftlie wiii k'w 1 I "oihparahvelyjongcylinder-"I52;'is"l'iedly mounted dn"the"table"5 l I Viding QonQe' or mer head stock 42 supports the usual face plate 44 which is shown in the form of a chuck clamping work 45 which it is desired to rebore. smaller bore is true while the larger bore 4| is. worn and must be rebored.

One manner of using the visual indicator is as follows. A contact stylus in the form of a pointed pick 41 is clamped in the tool p ost 46 after first "wr'apping'a piece'of insulation 48; which may be a piece of paper, around the pick 41. The bolt 149 is screwed down to firmly clamp the pick 41 II the tool post. I The large clamp I4 of the inditor be placed on the pick 41 and the mall clamp 16 on the shank of bolt 49. lt -"willrh'e understood that by suitable adjustn ent .of t he tool post 46, the pick 41 will be in- "sert"ed' i'hsid'ewiirk with its point engaging the smaller bore 40. The jaws of clamp 44 will then be adjusted so as to center the work 45 in such manner hereto evenlyahqijihirorinlythrehghcutthea al I dfthifoughoutits 'cii'ci'ifnfereiice'when 'tli'effaf'e plate 44 'i fhetatd. I I

' This; arborf'h'as" seeh'red therete' the th h o a he hie eeehee i .hdhsiiheei er he:

.eE QC BM tPiQ L m eleetweenclam 6 n 14, Tracing. thepllfcuitjrogrthe central battery ,;4;matical yzamnvehticnal lathehaiii g h deiqe 42 and carriage 43 carrying tool post 46. The

leleimnelfi l mp :4 swiv -=1 lisui-t'able" layers of" His lation 53": and 54,1euehhs in sufit able vertically adjustable carriages (riot thelart willbe und'rstobdlthat the-e t'foi The visual indicator hip . e z d h sm ller. 'c e pf e-F r d t 'i t er 91 1913 1 t 919 u he the the l r e'ele :oith mae i e e e, e e ici ed 5 c :Wh ear rals r rq nd o? thea u bh i 'QlJ tiiS s lewse- ,.W we to light the 'ilashght l. s lf hei Mwhi his r und dio he hem he irc it ihe h ept or-58 tric circuit is completed of the machine. The circuit istheri completed The.

hat the oint of; pick engages the smaller by engagement of cutting tool'59 with the insu lated work 52 through small clamp l6 and flexible lead l5. I. It will be understood that the arbor 58 will be adjusted and the tool 59 adjusted in the arbor so that uniform contact is obtained between the tool 59 and all parts of the periphery of the internal surface of work 52 at the test places. These test places may be any unworn parts of the internal surface and may be midway of the length of the long cylinder 52 or at the ends or at any other place. It will be seen that, regardless of the inac-; cessibility of the test surface or its distance from the eyes of the machimst, a condition of uniform contact between the tool 59 and the work- 52 can be tested with certainty by observing the flashlight bulb as described above. I Considering now Figs. 4 and 5, the visual indicator is shown associated with .a more or less standard surface gauge. The surface gauge comprises a flat base 6| having an adjustable fulcrum bar 62 pivoted thereto at fulcrum 64. Adjusting screw 63 enables the bar 62 to be swiveled in a vertical plane. The bar 62 adjustably supports a post 68 which has a hub 65 with a reduced stem on which is screw threaded thumb nut 61. Suitable insulation 55 is interposed between the bar 62 and hub 65 for the purpose of utilizing the invention.

A stylus or pick ll passes through an opening in a split collar member 69 which surrounds post 68 and a thumb nut 10 clamps both the split collar B9 on post 68 and the pick II in proper longitudinal and .rotative position with respect to split collar 69 as will be understood by those who use this type of surface gauge.

The visual indicator may be mounted by placing the jaws of the large clamp l4 around the post 68 and placing the small clamp IS on one of the stop pins 14 usually present on a surface gauge of this type.

The use of the surface gauge with the invention applied thereto is similar to ordinary use thereof. The work is indicated by 12 and is shown as resting upon the metal surface of the work table 13 on which the base 6| of the surface gauge also rests. Assuming that it is desired to measure the distance between the top surface of the work 12 and the surface of the work table 73, the surface gauge will be adjusted by manipulating the nuts 10, 81 and adjusting screw 63 in a manner well known to those skilled in the art until the end of pick H lightly touches the top of the work I2. The condition of correct engagement between the point of pick H and the surface of work 12 is ascertained by observing the lighting of the flashlight bulb as explained in the other setups above.

The electric circuit established by contact of pick H and work 12 is as follows. The work 12, table 13 and base 6| of the surface gauge and stop pins 14 are all grounded to the work table 13. The pick H is insulated from the base 6| of the surface gauge by the insulation 66. Starting with large clamp 14, the circuit is established through post 68, pick H, work I2, work table 13, surface gauge base Bl, pin stops 14, back to smaller clamp [6.

It will be understood one or both mechanical spring clamps may be replaced by an appropriate permanent magnet. Such magnets may be conveniently used both to aflix the visual indicator to the work setup and to make electrical contact when both the work and machine are made of steel or other magnetic material to which the permanent magnets will that, if desired, either adhere. When the work is of brass or some other non-magnetic material, and it is desired to connect one ofthe terminals of the visual indicators to it, a spring pressed clamp. or some other mechanical "clamping device must, of course, be used -..11 j 4 :It will beunderstood that it is often difficult to-teil when a fine pointed :stylus, such? as the point ofan ordinary'pi'ck or even the tip of a cutting -tool lightly t-engages or just touches a surface,j-with -any degree of accuracy. Heretoforeit has been customary to rely largely upon the sens'es-offeel and sight. These senses .are often unreliable, andare particularly so, when the point-to be measured or tested is in some remote or inaccessible place. The use of the visual indicator not'only increases the accuracy when testing in such remote or inaccessible places, but also increases the accuracy where the surface to be tested is easily accessible, since most accurate measurements are obtained when the stylus touches the surface with the proper contact pressure, bearing thereon neither too firmly nor too lightly. The correct contact condition may be indicated when the bulb flashes substantially continuously but flickers very slightly as the stylus or work is moved to engage the stylus with different parts of the test surface.

It will be understood that the visual indicator may be used in relationships other than those shown and that the above setups are given merely for purposes of illustration. This indicator is extremely adaptable, offering a great many different uses. It is self-contained, requiring no outside power connection. It may be built into a surface gauge by more or less permanently affixing the clamp to the post and the flexible lead to the base. Or, it may form part of work setups including parts of lathes, boring mills, milling machines, internal and external grinders, etc.

In any case, the stylus must be electrically insulated from the work. In some cases the stylus is insulated from the work table or 'machine frame and the work is grounded on the work table or machine frame, and in other cases the stylus is grounded and the work insulated.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed herein, and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable, universal, battery-powered visual indicator for use with different machine shop work setups in which first and second parts of the work setup are electrically insulated from each other and between which parts it is desired to make contact 'for setting up the work; said indicator comprising a casing, a battery in said casing, a lamp supported by said casing, a positioni ng spring clamp secured to said casing for clamping the indicator to a first part of the work setup to positively support the indicator in convenient position for the machinist to observe said lamp, said clamp also serving to make electric connection with the work setup, a lead wire, said casing having means forming a circuit, which includes said lamp and battery, between said p0- sitioning clamp and lead wire, a second spring clamp connected to said lead wire and adapted to clamp onto and make electric connection with the second part of the work setup, said clamps being: ofi'theiuniszensal tynmte ,BMQKQ'WdflQZiQgG wide va iety of partsawhsnebsaestablishmsntzefi aoatact; between saidypa'nts; of athavwprk se1;up;is readily noted bylighpingzofa-saim lampz-l 7 1 2.11511. portable,; universal,1.. battery-powered visual indicator for use with different machine: slmnawork setups in wmchmfirstzanmsecpndaparts afithewworks setup arel eleetricany insulateclifxom' each other andnbetweemwhich parts it.is;.des1r,ed

to make. contact. for setting =up:-..thesvwork;.: sai

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indicator inv convenienimpositiomfon the: ma- 61111118131; to observe:- said lamp;- said z clamp". also sewing to; make. elec'mgv .CDUDBOHOIIZ' with the work;se tup;;a; lead wire;. saidgcasing. having means forminga circuit, wmchminciildes. saidjrl'amp and: battery; :between said positioning; clamp and lea-d wire; aasecond spningm clamp connected to :s'aid elekzbri, fiatzitiebflbmfiifli: stliers eoti, .p work setup, said clamp being of Qtheffuniv typei to engage {and grip awidavarietxf of; pants.

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